Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf says all that is needed to create a rail link to Glasgow Airport is a fully costed business plan from Glasgow and Renfrewshire councils.

He confirmed today that more than £1 billion of funding is in place. That cash is for the Glasgow City Region deal which will fund 26 projects across the west of Scotland including the £144m rail link.

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However leader of Glasgow City Council Frank McAveety and leader of Renfrewshire Council Mark Macmillan say for the rail link to go ahead it must be included in Transport Scotland's high level rail plans due to be finalised next year

Both leaders are meeting Mr Yousaf today to make the case for that to happen.

Councillor Macmillan said: "In order for this project to progress, the transport agency Transport Scotland, needs to include it in future rail planning proposals due to be finalised next year. The project’s inclusion in this document is critical.”

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Councillor McAveety added: "We’ll be looking for the full support of the Scottish Government and its agency, Transport Scotland, to not only commit to helping us deliver the rail link but also to speed up its delivery."

But Mr Yousaf says the project will go ahead once a fully costed business plan is drawn up.

He told Clyde One: "The councils involved have over a billion pounds from the Scottish Government and from the UK government

"All they have to do of course is produce the fully costed business case.

"I'm waiting for that to come forward.

"My message to them is get on and do it.

"The money is there. The Scottish Government is putting in £500m.

"The UK government is putting in a similar sum."

It is hoped that construction on the rail link will get underway in 2022 with services scheduled to begin in 2025.